Overlapping sphincter repair provides satisfactory results in more than two-thirds of patients initially, but the results tend to worsen over time and are satisfactory in half of patients after longer follow-up.

Although ISR does not affect quality of life in general, the extent of internal anal sphincter resection has a negative impact on symptom-specific quality of life owing to faecal incontinence.

This trial did not reveal any significant differences in defecatory function 6, 12 and 24 months after low anterior resection (LAR) between patients with a latero-terminal anastomosis and those with colonic J-pouch anastomosis. Our results did not confirm superiority of colonic J-pouch over the latero-terminal anastomosis

We conclude that the management of these injuries depends upon the time of recognition of the lesion, size of the injured duct and of the type and stage of complications.